documents the military service of women from Newcastle and the Hunter region of NSW, 1914-1919

Sister Agnes Ross CUTHBERTSON, 1872-1936

Detail of Wallsend Citizens’ MemorialPhoto: A John Bramble 2010

Connection with the Hunter Valley – Sister Agnes Ross Cuthbertson was born in Newcastle, trained at Wallsend Hospital and had a twenty-two year association with nursing in Singleton. She is named on the Wallsend and Singleton Citizens’ memorials. Agnes was Matron of Singleton Benevolent Asylum from 1905 to 1907, then the first Matron of Dangar Cottage Hospital Singleton from 1907. She returned to Dangar Cottage Hospital after the War and remained there until 1927.

“Her passing was a great loss to the community, for she was a virtuous woman and never grew callous or unkind through many years of nursing. She had a genuine sympathy for the sick and suffering, and helped and comforted them to an extent beyond her mere duty.” From a letter to the editor, Singleton Argus, 17 August 1938, p3, retrieved from Trove 25 January 2013

Detail of Singleton Citizens’ Memorial in Burdekin Park.Photo: A John Bramble 2010

Service – Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS)

Service location – Egypt

Medals – British War Medal and Victory Medal

References:

National Archives of Australia B2455 CUTHBERTSON A R

Nominal Roll of the First AIF Australian War Memorial (AWM) AWM133,12-123

Embarkation Roll of the First AIF AWM Nurses (July 1915 – November 1918)